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Payday Loan Calculator

This payday loan calculator turns the amount you need, the fee per $100 borrowed, and the term in days into the finance fee and the total due on payday. It also annualises that fee into an effective APR so you can compare the cost with any other form of credit.

By the Paydayloaning Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

Advertising disclosure: Paydayloaning may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Read the full disclosure.

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How this calculator works

A payday loan is priced as a fee per $100 borrowed rather than as an interest rate. The calculator multiplies your amount by the fee rate to get the finance fee, then adds the fee to the principal to get the total due on your next payday.

The effective APR annualises that one-off fee over the term: (fee / amount) x (365 / days) x 100. On a two-week loan, a $15 fee per $100 borrowed works out to roughly 391% APR, a figure the Federal Trade Commission publishes.

Under the federal Truth in Lending Act the lender must disclose the finance charge and the APR in writing before you sign, so check the paperwork against these numbers before you commit.

Advertising disclosure: Paydayloaning may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Read the full disclosure.

Frequently asked questions

How is the finance fee calculated?
The fee is your amount multiplied by the fee per $100. A $15 fee on a $500 loan is $75, and the total due on payday is $575. On most payday contracts the fee stays the same even if you repay early.
Why is the APR so much higher than the fee?
The APR spreads a one-off fee across a full year instead of a two-week term. The Federal Trade Commission notes that a $15 fee per $100 on a two-week loan is about 391% APR. That annual figure is what makes the cost comparable to other credit.
What is the fee per $100?
It is the lender's price for every $100 you borrow, and it is the single best number to compare across lenders. Some states cap it, while others let the market set it, so the same loan can cost very different amounts by state.
Does repaying early reduce the cost?
Usually not. A payday loan charges a flat fee for the whole term, so paying it back in three days typically costs the same as paying on day fourteen. Check your own contract to confirm how your lender treats early repayment.

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Advertising disclosure: we may receive a referral fee. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants.

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